DIFFUSION & OSMOSIS

Diffusion is the result of the random motion of molecules.

According to Newton's laws of motion, objects will remain in motion and travel in a straight line
unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. Thus we have molecules constantly moving back and
forth, colliding with each other, bouncing off, and spreading outward away from the middle. This
results in a gradual spreading of molecules from areas of great concentration to areas of lesser
concentration. Many things can diffuse. Odors diffuse through the air. Salt diffuses through
water. Nutrients diffuse from the blood to the body tissues.

The difference between the greater concentration and the lesser concentration is called a
concentration gradient. Just as water will always flow from high to low, molecules will always
diffuse down the gradient, from high to low. However, when there are equal numbers of
molecules in each area, a state of equilibrium has been reached. At this point molecules continue
to move, but they now move back and forth in equal amounts.

Diffusion of substances and their absorption by the body is an important part of many of our
body functions. The regulation and maintenance of a steady balance of substances in the body is
referred to as homeostasis. The cell membrane is the most important part of the cell in regard to
homeostasis of substances. In living organisms diffusion is sometimes complicated by the fact
that the cell membrane will allow some substances to pass through it but not others. If a
substance can pass through the membrane we say that the membrane is permeable to it. So the
cell membrane is described as being selectively permeable. Water can almost always diffuse
through the membrane although its dissolved solutes may not always do so. This may create
concentration gradients (areas of high and low concentration) on either side of the membrane.
This diffusion of water through a cell's selectively permeable membrane is termed osmosis.

The main direction in which the water flows is determined by the concentration gradient. The
concentration gradient of solutions is indicated by use of the terms hypotonic, hypertonic, and
isotonic.

The prefix hypo means "less than". The prefix hyper means "greater than". The prefix iso means
"equal".

ANSWER QUESTIONS 1-6

In a hypotonic solution the concentration of dissolved solutes is less than that of the cell. This
means that the water concentration will be higher outside the cell and more water will move into
the cell. Cells placed in this type of solution may swell, build up pressure, or burst. The bursting
of cells, cytolysis, happens more often in animal cells because they have no thick cell walls. In
order to prevent this, some unicellular organisms pump out the extra water using organelles
called contractile vacuoles. Plant cells, with their thick cell walls, may build up a pressure called
turgor.
EXAMPLE:

Blood cells have a salt concentration of 0.9% salt. This means that they are approximately 99%
water (This is higher than most cells). When blood cells are placed in distilled water (pure water,
100% water), more water diffuses into the membrane than diffuses out. Think of it in this way.
Since the substance outside the membrane is 100% water molecules (and the membrane is
permeable to water) all of the molecules that try to diffuse through, will be able to pass into the
cell. However, only 99% of the molecules on the inside of the cell are water molecules. Thus
only 99% of the molecules that try to diffuse out will be able to. Therefore there are 100
molecules going in, for every 99 that come out. Eventually the increase in water may cause the
blood cells to burst (cytolysis.)

ANSWER QUESTIONS 7-11

In a hypertonic solution, the concentration of dissolved solutes is greater than that of the cell.
This means that the water concentration outside the cell will be less than the concentration
inside. More water will diffuse out of the cell than in. When this occurs the cell shrinks or
shrivels. This is called plasmolysis.

Example: When salt is poured on a snail, a hypertonic solution is created because the
concentration of salt is greater outside his body than inside the cells. If the salt solution outside is
20% salt, then the water concentration is 80%. If the water concentration inside the snail's cells is
in the 90% range, more water diffuses out of the cell than in. In reality water diffuses both
directions. But for every 80 molecules that diffuse in, 90 molecules diffuse out. As a result the
cells of the snail shrink or shrivel (plasmolysis).

In an isotonic solution, the concentration of the dissolved solutes is the same inside and outside
the cell. If the water concentration of the snail cells is 90% (10% solutes) and they are placed
into a 10% salt solution (90% water), then equal numbers of water molecules will diffuse in and
out of the cells.

ANSWER QUESTIONS 12-16

OTHER TYPES OF TRANSPORT:

Substances may pass through the membrane by diffusion, moving from areas of higher
concentrations to lower concentrations without using any energy from the cell. These types of
movment requiring no use of cell energy are called Passive Transport. They include simple
diffusion, osmosis, and a type of assisted diffusion called Facilitated Diffusion. To "facilitate"
means to make easier. Facilitated diffusion is used to speed up the diffuion of larger molecules,
like glucose, through the membrane. In order to do this, special protein molecules imbedded in
the lipid membrane combine with glucose and then change shape, pulling the glucose through
the membrane. These special protein molecules are called carrier molecules. Facilitated diffusion
works only when the diffusion is from high to low.

Cells also have special protein molecules called "gated-channels" that can be turned on or off as
needed to make the membrane permeable or impermeable to certain substances. These open up
at specific times to allow substances to diffuse through.

Sometimes the cell needs to move substances through the membrane against the concentration
gradient (from low to high). Going against the concentration gradient requires the use of energy
(like paddling upstream). The use of energy to transport substance across the membrane is called
Active Transport. One common use of active transport is used to maintain high levels of sodium
ions outside the cell and high levels of potassium ions inside the cell. This is called the sodium-
potassium pump. During active transport ATP molecules cause carrier molecules to move 3
sodium molecules out of the cell and bring 2 potassium molecules into the cell. This unequal
distribution positive ions creates an electrical potential that is responsible for the generation of
nerve impulses. Other pumps are also used elsewhere in the body.

ANSWER QUESTIONS 17-20

Molecules that are too large for gated channels, pores, or carrier molecules, such as food
materials and waste materials may enter and leave the cell through processes called Endocytosis
and Exocytosis. During endocytosis, the membrane encloses a large object (such as food) in an
inward pouch and then pinches off to the inside where cellular enzymes may digest the food.
When endocytosis involves large solid particles it is referred to as phagocytosis. If endocytosis
involves movement of dissolved solutes or fluids into the cell, it is referred to as pinocytosis.
Amebas feed by using phagocytosis. White blood cells may also destroy bacteria in the body by
phagocytosis.

Exocytosis is the process of transporting substances out of the cell that are too large to pass
through the membrane. It is the exact reverse of endocytosis. One common example is the export
of packaged proteins out of the cell. The ribosome manufactures the proteins which are
transported to the golgi apparatus where they are surrounded by a membrane forming a bubble or
vesicle. These vesicles move to the membrane, fuse with it, and empty their contents out of the
cell.

ANSWER QUESTIONS 21-25

Osmosis Tutorial
Click on the correct answer

1 Which of the following would be an example of simple diffusion?

the smell of ammonia spreading throughout the room
water being poured into a glass
blood cells shrinking when placed in salt water
turgor pressure in plant cells

2 Which of the following would be an example of osmosis?

the smell of ammonia spreading throughout the room
the shriveling of a snail after salt is poured on it
water being poured into a glass
the absorption of water by a bathroom sponge

3 A state of biological balance maintained by living organisms is called .....

phagocytosis
osmosis
cytolysis
homeostasis
4 The part of the cell that is most important in maintaining homeostasis with
the cell's environment is the ...
nucleus
cytoplasm
DNA
cell membrane

5 Which prefix means "greater than"?

hypo
hyper
iso
plasmo
cyto
6 When the process of diffusion reaches an equilibrium state:
the movement of all molecules stops
molecules continue to move but in equal amounts
a further exchange of molecules ceases
a hypotonic solution is formed

7 Red blood cells contain 0.9% salt. Which of the following solutions would
be hypotonic to the blood?
9%
0.9%
0.09%
1.9%

8 The bursting of cells due to osmosis is called ....

plasmolysis
hypertonic
cytolysis
turgor

9 The pressure that builds up in plant cells due to osmosis and the strength
of the cell walls is called ...
plasmolysis
 hypertonic
cytolysis
turgor

10 Sea water is approximately 3% salt. Sea water is hypertonic to the tissues

of freshwater fish. Therefore we can conclude that the tissues contain .......
% salt.
3%
greater than 3%
less than 3%
none of these

11 Unicellular freshwater organisms find themselves in a hypotonic solution.

In order to get rid of excess water that diffuses into the cells, these
organisms use .....
plasmolysis
turgor
cytolysis
contractile vacuoles

12 Red blood cells contain 0.9% salt. Which of the following solutions would
be isotonic solutions to the blood?
9% salt
0.9% salt
0.09% salt
0% salt
none of these
13 Carrot sticks that are left in a dish of freshwater for several hours become
stiff and hard. Similar sticks left in a saltwater solution become limp and
solf. From this we can deduce that the freshwater is ______ and the
saltwater is ________ to the cells of the carrot sticks.
hypotonic / hypotonic
hypertonic / hypotonic
hypotonic / hypertonic
hypertonic / hypertonic
14 In an attempt to replenish the body fluids, a patient (who has had serious
hemorrhage) accidentally receives a large transfusion of distilled water
directly into one of his veins. This would probably .....
have no unfavorable effect as long as the water was sterile
have serious, perhaps fatal effects because there would be too much fluid
for the heart to pump.
have serious, perhaps fatal effects because the red blood cells would tend
to shrivel
have serious, perhaps fatal effects because the red blood cells would tend
to burst

15 A solution that contains a higher level of salts than found in cells is said to
be .....
hypertonic
hypotonic
isotonic
catatonic

16 A beacher is divided into two halves, A & B by a membrane freely

permeable to the water but not to glucose. Side A is filled with a solution of
water with 2% glucose, while side B is filled with water and 4% glucose.
Which best describes what will happen to this system.
water will move from A to B
water will move from B to A
water will move equally in both directions
water will move in both directions but mostly from A to B
water will move in both directions but mostly from B to A
17 Movement of substances across the membrane without the use of cellular
energy is termed ......
active transport
carrier transport
passive transport
the sodium-potassium pump

18 The process of facilitated diffusion requires

carrier proteins
no input of energy from the cell
 a downhill gradient
all of these
none of these
19 One common example of active transport is ....
the diffusion of glucose across a membrane
the sodium-potassium pump
osmosis
plasmolysis

20 Both facilitated diffusion and active transport make use of carrier

molecules that change shape and move substances through the membrane.
These molecules are made of .....
hydrophobic lipids
carbohydrates
proteins
hydrophilic lipids

21 Substances that are much too large to pass through the cell membrane
may still get into the cell through the process of .....
endocytosis
exocytosis
facilitated diffusion
active transport
osmosis
22 The engulfing or swallowing of large objects by amebas or white blood
cells is called .....
exocytosis
pinocytosis
phagocytosis
oxytosis

23 Which one of the following DOES NOT BELONG?

Passive
Active
Facilitated diffusion
 Osmosis

24 Which of the following cell structures are involved in exocytosis involving

packaged proteins?
cell membrane
golgi apparatus
ribosomes
all of these

25 A beaker is divided into two halves, A & B, by a membrane that is freely

permeable to the water and NaCl but not to protein. Side A is half-filled
with a solution of 8% protein, while side B is half filled with a 2% protein
solution. After time goes by, it is found that in side A ......
the number of protein molecules has increased
the number of water molecules has decreased
the number of water molecules has increased
the percentage of water has decreased

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Osmosis Review
Gap-Fill Exercise

1. "Hypo" means " than".

2. transport requires the use of cell energy to move materials through the cell membrane
against the concentration gradient.
3. is a specific term referring to the movement of small particles or liquids into the
cell.
4. diffusion moves substances passively through the membrane from high
concentrations to low concentrations using carrier proteins.
5. is a specific term referring to the movement of large particles or solids into the
cell.
6. solutions have equal concentrations of solutes inside and outside the cell.
7. solutions have lower concentrations of solutes outside the cell.
8. solutions have higher concentrations of solutes outside the cell.
9. transport allows substances to enter the cell without any energy being used from the
cell.
10. A cell that is 70 percent water is placed into a 30 percent sugar water solution, what will
happen to the cell? Water will move of the cell .
11. A concentration refers to the difference between the high and low concentrations.
12. A cell that is 60 percent water is placed into a 30 percent sugar solution in water. What will
happen to the cell? Water will move the cell.
13. A general term that refers to the bulk transport of large objects into the cell is .
14. Animal cells have no cell walls. When placed in hypotonic solutions animal cells may
or burst.
15. Because of osmosis, plant cells build up water pressure inside. This pressure is called
.
16. Bulk movement of materials out of the cell is referred to as .
17. Cell membranes are selectively , which means that they allow only certain
substances to pass through.
18. Diffusion rates may be affected by: concentration, temperature, and .
19. Distilled water has no solutes and is therefore to all cells.
20. Glucose enters cells through the process of diffusion.
21. Hypertonic solutions cause water to flow of a cell. (like putting salt on a snail)
22. Hypotonic solutions cause water to flow the cell.
23. If a cell that is 80 percent water is placed into a 30 percent sugar in water solution, what will
happen to the cell? Water will move the cell.
24. If a cell that is 80 percent water is placed into a distilled water solution, what will happen to
the cell? Water will move the cell.
25. and diffusion are examples of passive transport which take place without cell energy.
26. Osmosis depends on the concentration gradient on each side of the membrane which is
determined by the concentration of dissolved in the water.
27. Some cells may pump out excess water through special organelles called
vacuoles.
28. Special protein molecules called molecules move some larger molecules through the
membrane.
29. The bursting of cells due to osmosis is referred to as .
30. The cell membrane is composed of a double layer of with some proteins embedded in
and through it.
31. The current model of membrane structure is called the Fluid Model.
32. The diffusion of water through a selectively permeable membrane is termed .
33. The prefix "hyper" means " than".
34. The prefix "iso" means " ".
35. The random motion of molecules (when first observed) was referred to as motion.
36. The random motion of molecules that occurs from a region of higher concentration to a
region of lower concentration is called .
37. The shrinking of cells due to osmosis is referred to as .
38. Water flows in and out of cells until it reaches (equal concentrations). Then it
continues to flow both directions in equal amounts.

Active brownian carrier contractile cytolysis diffusion endocytosis equal

to equally equilibrium exocytosis Facilitated facilitated gradient greater
Hypertonic hypotonic Hypotonic in and out into into into Isotonic less
lipids lyse Mosaic Osmosis osmosis out out of Passive permeable
Phagocytosis Pinocytosis plasmolysis pressure solutes turgor